Williams To Host Opioid Addiction Panel Discussion

"The Opioid Epidemic in our Midst" will be the topic of a program this Wednesday, November 7, from 7 to 9 P.M. in the Paresky Center Auditorium at Williams College.

Guest panelists, Dr. Alex Sabo, Wendy Penner and Kenna Waterman will address questions like "What does the opioid epidemic look like in northwestern Massachusetts?", "What factors contribute to the epidemic, and how have medical, mental health, and community agencies been responding to the crisis?", and more.

Alex Sabo, MD, is Department Chair of Behavioral Sciences and Training Director of the Adult Psychiatry Residency Program at Berkshire Medical Center, and co-author of a recent root-cause analysis of prescription opioid overdoses. Wendy Penner, Ph.D. is Director of Prevention and Wellness at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. She convenes workgroups and facilitates community efforts related to substance use prevention, access to treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support. Kenna Waterman is the founder and president of Josh Bresette Commit to Save A Life, a non-profit organization committed to raising funds for people in recovery from opioid use.

Wednesday's program is free and open to the public.